Combination chair and writing desk



Dec. 20, 1932. E. M. RUNKLES 1,891,691

COMBINATION CHAIR AND WRITING DESK Original Filed March 22, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 20, 1932. "E. M. RUNKLES COMBINATION CHAIR AND WRITING DESK Original Filed March 22. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet W I A I W C w Jwwmtz .E. /7. Haul Yes Patented Dec. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELSIE I. BUNKLES, F DETROIT, MTCHIGAN COMBI NA TION CHAIR AND WRITING DESK Application filed March 22, 1930, Serial No. 438,167. Renewed May 2, 1982.

M and desk of pending application No. 395,311, filed September 26th, 1929, combination Blackburn.

An object of thisinvention is to provide an chairs and writing desks, of myself and Floyd improved chair wherein the writing desk porion is slidably carried in a pocket or compartment in one arm of the chair and when swung outwardly ofthe arm and into operative position may readily be adjusted to suit the convenience of the individual.

Another object of this invention is to provide a chair of this character having slidable supporting means for supporting the writingdesk member when swung into operative position. V

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described in and in part beunderstood from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings where- Figure 1 is a detail perspective view of a combined chair and desk constructed according to the preferred embodiment of this invention, the desk portion being shown in operative position;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of the device showing the desk in inoperative position;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view taken through one of the arms of the chair, showing the method of mounting the desk member therein; 1

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the desk member; 7 m

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the construction of the desk member and V Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, partly in detail, showing the desk supporting member and the means for slidably mounting the desk supporting member in the arm of the chair.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, thenuv I meral 10 designates generally a chair which is provided withside arms 11 and 12. The chair I 1O may be of any conventional type but is preferably ofwhat is commonly termed the overstuffed type which may have for a covering leather, imitation leather, clothor any other material. The side arm 12 is pro vided with a'pocket or compartment 13 which extends inwardly from the forward end there- 5? a of, and a plate member 14 is adapted to be mounted on the outer edge of the opening or compartment 13, the plate having an elongated opening 15 which is of a size similar to the size of the forward end of the compartment 13. y

A writing desk member generallydesignated as 16 is adapted to be slidably mounted in the compartment 13 of the arm 12. The

writing desk member 16' is provided at the ini9 ner end portion thereof with a swiveled ring member 17 which is adapted to slidably engage aguide'member or rod 18 which is spacedly mounted in the arm 12 and within thecompartment 13. The rod 18 may be sef8 cured to the arm 12 in any conventional manner, the inner end portion 'thereof being mounted in a socket or the like 19, and the outer end secured to a plate 20 which is positioned adj acent the outer end portion of the 9 arm 12 and inwardly of the facing plate 14.

The swiveled ring member 17 is of a construction such that it will not only permit the desk member 16 to move longitudinally of the arm 12 but when the desk member 16 has been pulled outwardly of the compartment 13 it may be swung upwardly and downwardly, the 7 ring construction permitting a pivotal or swinging movement of the desk member, the supporting plate member 20 serving as a stop and limiting the outward movementof th ring 17 on the guide rod 18. i a l The arms 11 and 12 are provided with tracks or guide members2l which are-mounted in a substantially horizontal position, an a supporting member or elongated bar 22 is adapted to be slidably mounted in the guide or track 21.- The desk supporting members 22 are provided at the outer end portion thereof with an upstanding lug 23 and a for- Wardly extending arcuate grasping member 24 so that when the desk supporting members 22 are positioned in the arms in inoperative position, the outstanding portions 24- will extend outwardly of the arms and permit outward movement of the supporting members. The inner ends of the supporting members 22 are provided with upstanding stop members 25 which engage against stop members 26 carried by the tracks 21 so as to limit the outward movement'ofthe desk supporting members. .7

The desk member 16 comprises a frame 27 of substantially 'U-sha-pe construction, the open ends of which extend inwardly and a sliding desk member 28 is mounted 'on the frame 27. The frame 27 may be constructed of wood or other material and provided with a longitudinal groove 29 along the inner edges of the opposite ends thereof, and the desk member 28 may be provided with a tongue'30which is adapted to slidably engage in'the groove 29 so that the desk-28 maytbe moved inwardly. The desk portion 28 is of a length to readily slide between the inner face portions of the arms 11 and 12 and if desired, the inner face portions of the arms 11 and 12 may be provided with guard portions 31 in alignment with the desk member 28 so that the upholstery ofthearms will not be injured by the outer end portions of the desk member 28 when the desk member is moved inwardly of the outer ends of the arms.

The frame 27 is provided at the opposite end portions thereof with a strap member 32 which extends along the opposite ends of the frame and inwardly a slight degree along the front and rearedges. The strap member 32 serves as a bracing member so as to preventwarping or the like'of the desk member 16 and may also be suitably plated or the like so as to present a pleasing appearance when the desk member 16 is mounted in the arm 12. The frame 27 is provided with recesses or cut out portions 33 into which the upstanding lugs 23 carried by the desk supporting members 22 are adapted to seat so that when the desk member 16 is mounted on the supporting members 22 it will be held against movement thereon. I V

The strap member 32 mounted on the forward edge of the frame 27 may be provided with a suitable grasping member or button 34: so as to facilitate pulling the desk member 16 outwardly of the arm 12. The arm 11 of the chair may be provided with awriting compartment 35 which preferably opens at the side of the arm and the upholstery of the chair may be provided with a plurality of snap fasteners 36 so that the upholstery at the side of the arm maybe opened, thereby permitting ready access to the compartment 35. The compartment 35 may contain any desired writing material holders or members 37 and these members may include means for holding writing paper, pens, ink or the like. While I have shown the writing material compartment 35 as being accessible by unfastening snap fasteners secured to the upholstery, we do not wish to be limited to this construction as the side portion of the arm llmay be constructed in'any suitable manner so as to permit ready access to the writing compartment 35. g

In the use of this device, the writing desk 16 is normally positioned within the pocket 13 and the desk supporting members 22 are normally positioned in the opposite arms, the lug members 23 engaging against apertured plates 38 mounted on the forward ends of the arms 11 and 12. The rasping means 24 normally extend outwardly of theforward ends of the arms 11 and 12. When it is desired to use the chairras a writing desk, the desk 2,

member 16 may be, moved outwardly by grasping the handle or pulling member 34 and pulling the desk '16 outwardly of the arm 12. Thedesk, whenpulled outwardly of the arm 12 may be swungupwardly'and downwardly into substantially horizontal position. The desksupporting members 22 may be pulled outwardly to the limit of their movement and the desk 16 permitted to rest thereupon. The recesses 33 in the frame 27 will then engage aboutthe lug members 23. If desired, the desk or writing portion 28 may be pulled inwardly of the frame 27 so that it will be in a convenient position to .permit use thereof.

As disclosed in Figures 2 and 3, the plate 14 may be provided at theopposite ends thereof with a track or guide 38 ,and a slidable panel member 39' which is provided with a pair of track members 40 adjacent the opposite ends thereof is adapted to be slidably mounted in'the guide track 38 and be moved outwardly so as to expose the desk member 16. The inner face of the panel member 39 preferably slidably engages the outer face of the arm 12 and the plate 14: is preferably countersunk into the arm so that the outer edge of the guide track 38 lies substantially flush with the outer face of the arm.

Itwill, of course, be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes andmodifications being restricted only by the scope of thefollowing claims What is claimed is r 1. In combination, a chair having an elongated compartment in one arm opening through the front thereof, desk means, means for slidably mounting said desk means in said compartment, a pair of desk supporting member in said compartment, said desk mem-- ber comprising a frame and a slidable member carried by said frame and adapted for movement between the arms of the chair, desk supporting means carried by said chair and adapted to hold said frame in substantially horizontal position, and grasping means mounted on one edge of said desk supporting means and adapted to facilitate Withdrawing said desk supporting means fr0m said compartment.

3. In combination, a chair having an elongated compartment in one arm thereof, a desk member, means for slidably and swingingly mounting said desk member in said compartment, said desk member comprising a U- shaped frame and a slidable member mounted on said frame and adapted for movement inwardly of the forward ends of the arms of said chair, said frame having strap members on the opposite end portions thereof, said frame member also having recesses adjacent the outer edge portions thereof, a pair of desk supporting members slidably mounted in the arms of said chair, said desk supporting members having upstanding lugs adapted to seat in said recesses of said frame, and stop means for limiting the movement of said desk supporting members.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

EL SIE M, RUNKLES. 

